Fire extinguishing system



April- 1 7, 1934.-

A.- C. ROWLEY I FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM Filed April 13 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wak Q April 17, 1934. A, c. ROWLEY FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM Filed April 15. 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jrfiur Patented Apr. 17, 1934 UNITED STATES 1,955,686 FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM Arthur -C. Rowley, Drexel Hill, Pa., assignor to Globe. Automatic Sprinkler Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 13, 1933, Serial No. 666,044

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in fire extinguishing systems of the automatic sprinkler type, and a principal object of the invention is to provide a novel system of this character including a tank from which water or other fluid medium is expelled by air pressure when the system is actuated by the opening of a. sprinkler head.

Another. object of the invention is to provide a system of the stated character w ich is fully prote'cted by a suitable alarm device which is operative under all conditions of unbalance within the system.

' A still further object of the invention is to provide a system of the stated character of extreme simplicity and well adapted for use in household and other relatively small installations.

The invention, further resides in certain novel structural features and details hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the attached drawings, in which Figure l is an elevational view showing the essential elements of a system made in accordance with my invention; and

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the control valve on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

With reference to Fig. l of the drawings a system made in accordance with my invention comprises a tank 1 to the bottom of which is connected a drain pipe 2 and a water supply pipe 3. The drain and supply pipes are controlled in the present instance by valves 4 and 5 respectively. Also, in the present instance, the drain pipe 2 and the supply pipe 3 are connected to a pipe 6 which extends from the bottom of the tank upwardly and connects at its upper end to a sprinkler system not shown. Located in and controlling the pipe 6 is a valve 7, the details of-which are illustrated in Fig. 2.

As therein illustrated, the valve '7 comprises a clapper 8 which seats within the valve casing to thereby close the pipe 6. The clapper 8 in leaving its seat moves away from that portion of the pipe 6 which connects to the tank. The clapper is pivotally secured to a transverse pin 9, and also pivotally'mounted on this pin is a lever 11 which has a projecting portion engaging ithin a recess 12 in the upper surface of the clapper. The lever 11 also has an oppositely extending projecting portion 13 which is engaged by the inner end of a plunger 14. This plunger is slidably mounted in the stem 15 of a valve element 16, the stem 15 having threaded engagement with the valve casing and projecting through the latter. The outer end of the stem 15 has.

a hand 'wheel 17 whereby the stem may be rotated to unseat or seat the valve 16, as required. The valve 16 controls a port 18 through which communication is established between the interior chamber of the valve casing above the clapper and a chamber '19 which is connected through a port 21 to a drain. A spring 22 engages the head of the plunger 14, and tends continuously to force this plunger into engagement with the projecting abutment 13 of the lever 11 and thereby resiliently to force the clapper 8* to its seat. When the stem 15 is turned inwardly, the port 18 is opened and when sufficiently advanced brings the valve 16 into engagement with the head 14 of the plunger to thereby positively hold the valve clapper 8 seated. When the valve 16 is seated, closing the port 18, movement of the clapper 8 is regulated by the resilient pressure of the spring 22.

The interior chamber of the valve '7 above the clapper 8 has a port 23 which extends to a chamber 24 in the casing.- The port 23 is restricted, or completely closed, by a plunger 25, depending upon the position of the latter. As illustrated, the plunger 25 is provided with a valve 26 which when the plunger is fully extended by means of a spring 2'7 closes the port 23. The clapper 8 has a projection 28 which when the clapper is seated engages the outer projecting end of the plunger 25 and forces the latter inwardly against the pressure of the spring 27. The plunger 25 does not completely fill the port 23, so that when the plunger 25 is thus depressed, the chamber 24 is connected to the interior of the valve casing through the restricted port 23. The chamber 24 communicates through a port 29 with a chamber 31, and this chamber communicates through a pipe-32 with the tank 1, at a point adjacent the top of the latter. 7 Threaded into the valve casing 7 and extending into the chamber 24 is a valve 33, this valve being operative from the exterior of the valve casing through the medium of a hand wheel 30.

When turned inwardly to its full extent the valve closes the port 29. The valve also, includes an enlarged cylindrical portion 34, which when the valve is threaded inwardly, enters a port 35 through which port communication is established between a port 36 in the interior chamber of the valve 7 and a chamber 37. The enlargement 34 of the valve stem is slightly smaller than the port 35 so that it is ineffective to completely close this port in which it constitutes a restriction. The enlargement. 34 also constitutesa valve effective when the valve stem 33 is fully retracted,.as

extends.

casing.

The chambers 24 and 37 are respectively connected through pipes 41 and 42 to opposite sides of an electric alarm device 43, such, for example, as that disclosed in United States Patent No. 1,946,412, dated Feb. 6, 1934. The details of this device form no part of the present invention and it is suincient to state that the device is actuated to sound the alarm by a predetermined reduction of the pressure within the chambers 37 below that within the chamber 24, as hereinafter set forth. The interior chamber of the valve '1 below the clapper 8 has a port 44 which connects with an air supply pipe 45 extending from a suitable source of compressed air. Preferably also the tank 1 is provided with a water gauge 46 which may be of the usual type.

In setting theaforedescribed system for operation, the valve stem 15 is turned inwardly until the .valve 16 engagesthe head of the plunger 14 to thereby lock the clapper 8 on its seat. The Water supply valve 5 is now opened to admit water to the interior of the tank 1, the tank being filled about two-thirds full, as indicated on the gauge 46. The valve 5 is now closed, the valve stem 15 backedoff until the valve 16 is seated in the port 18,- and air is admitted under pressure through the port 44 and the air supply pipe 45. At this point in the operation, the valve,

' the pipe 6 into the bottom of the tank and passes to the upper part of the tank. The air pressure in the upper end of the tank is impressed through the pipe-32 upon the chamber 31 and through the open port 29 upon the chamber 24, from whence it passes slowly through the restricted opening 23 throughthe upper chamber of the valve 7 and to the sprinkler system. This escape of air to the sprinkler system through the restricted port 23, however, is not suiiiciently rapid to balance the pressures at opposite sides of the clapper 8; and as the pressure builds up in the pipe 6 and in the tank 1, this pressure eventually reaches the point where it overbalances the pressure of the spring 22 upon the clapper 8, whereupon the clapper is elevated from its sea-t, permitting passage of air directly to the sprinkler system. the pressure builds up within the system, it eventually equalizes the pressure of the air at the under side of the clapper, whereupon the clapper 8 will close under the action of the spring 22. This balance of pressures between the sprinkler systemand the tank 1 is maintained when the clapper 8 is thus closed through the restricted orifice 23 and the pipe 32. The supply of air through the pipe 45 is now discontinued'and the system is in condition for operation. I

If new the system is actuated by the opening of one or more of, the sprinkler heads of the system, the resulting rapid exhausting of the air from he sprinkler system permits the pressure exer ed from the tank 1 on the under side of the clapper 8 to throw the latter open to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 2. Simultaneously with the opening 01. the clapper 8, the port 23 is closed. Under normal conditions and with the valve 26 open, it will be apparent that the pressures on the opposite sides ofthe alarm device 43 are balanced, but when the sprinkler system is suddenly exhausted, as described, the relatively high pressure in the chamber 24 actuates the device and sounds the alarm. The flow of waterto and through the sprinkler system continues until the water is exhausted from the tank 1, or until such time as it may be desired todiscontinue the flow. If the flow is to be discontinued, the stem 15 is turned inwardly until the clapper 8 is returned to its seat, this operation also opening the port 18.which connects the system to the drain. The valve stem 33 is now turned inwardly until the port 29 is closed, this operation also bringing the element 34 of the valve stem into the port 35. If in resetting the system for operation, the valve ele ment 33 is left in this position, air applied to the system, as previously described, will escape through the port 36 through the clearance between the port 35 and the element 34 and through the clearance between the stem and the passage .38 to the exterior of the valve Under these cir- .the system has been balanced and is ready for operation, there will result an immediate actuation of the electrical alarm. when the valve 33 is closed, as previously set forth, there will be a leakage around the spindle which will continue until the valve is again opened. Also the alarm will be sounded if the valve 16 is opened after the system has been set for operation. Such opening of the valve connects the system with the drain and thereby evacuates the sprinkler system of its compressed air. This also evacuates the chamber 3'7 more rapidly than the chamber 24 by reason of the restriction of the port 23, and will thereby actuate the electric alarm signal, as previously set forth. It is apparent, therefore, that the alarm is actuated in the event any of the moving elements of the valve structure ing water to the tank. The latter is left approximately two-thirds full and the necessary air pressure thereafter applied to the tank. i

There may be considerable modification without departure from the invention.

I claim: 1. In fire-extinguishing apparatus, the combination with a normally closed distributing system, of a tank for a liquid fire-extinguishing medium connected from the bottom with said system, a normally seated valve for controlling the said connection, said valve being adapted to open under theefiects of a preponderant pressure on the tank side thereof, means for admitting air under pressure between the valve and the tank,

a port directly connecting the upper end of the tank with the system, a Valve adapted normally to close the port, and means for holdingthe lastnamed valve open when the first-named valve is closed.

2. 1n fire-extinguishing apparatus, the combination with a normally closed distributing system, of a tank for a liquid fire-extinguishing medium connected from the bottom with said system, a normally seated valve for controlling the said connection, said valve being adapted to open under the efiects of a preponderant pressure on the tank side thereof, means for admitting air within the system as compared with the tank pressure.

3. In fire-extinguishing apparatus, the combination with a normally closed distributing sys- I tem, of a tank for a liquid fire-extinguishing medium, a pipe extending from the bottom of said tank upwardly to said system, a valve controlling said pipe and located in the upwardly extending portion of the latter, means for admitting air under pressure to said pipe at a point intermediate the valve and the tank, said valve being adapted for'actuation to open the pipe by unbalanced pressure in that portion thereof connecting with the tank, means for positively looking the valve to its seat, a duct for connecting the upper end of said tank directly with sdid system,

a valve in said duct, and means operative to open the last-named valve when the first-named valve is seated and for closing said second valve when the first-named valve is unseated,

a. In fire-extinguishing apparatus, the combination with a normally closed distributing system, of a tank for a liquid fire-extinguishing medium, a pipe extending from the bottom of said tank upwardly to said system, a valve controlling said pipe and located in the upwardly extending portion of the latter, means in admitting air under pressure to said pipe at a point intermediate the valve and the tank, said valve being adapted tor actuation to open the pipe by unbalanced pressure in that portion thereof connecting with the tank-means for positively locking the valve to its seat, a duct for connecting the upper end of said tank directly with said system, said duct including a restricted orifice, a valve controlling said duct, means for holding said valve open when the first-named valve is closed and for closing said second valve when the first valve is unseated,

. and alarm means operatively connected with said duct and directly with said system at opposite sides respectively or said orifice, said alarm being operative by a relative reduction of pressure in the system as compared with the pressure in said duct.

5. In fire-extinguishing apparatus, the combination with a normally closed distributing system, of a tank for a liquid fire-extinguishing medium, a pipe extending from the bottom of said, tank upwardly to said system, a'valve con-- trolling said pipe and located intlie upwardly extending portion of the latter, means for admitting air under pressure to said pipe at a point intermediate the valve and the tank, said valve being adapted for actuation to open the pipe by unbalanced pressure in that portion thereof connecting with the tank, means for positively looking the valve to its seat, a duct for connecting the upper end of said tank directly with said system, said duct including a restricted orifice, a valve controlling said duct, means for. holding said valve open when the first-named valve is closed and for closing said second valve when the first valve is unseated, alarm means operatively connected with said duct and directly with said system at opposite sides respectively of said orifice, said alarm being operative by a relative reduction of pressure in the system as compared with the pressure in said duct, and a manuallyoperated valve for disconnecting said duct both with said alarm and'with the system.

6. In fire-extinguishing apparatus, the combination with a normally closed distributing system, of a tank for a liquid fire-extingishing medium, a pipe extending from the bottom 01 said tank upwardly to said system, a valve in the upwardly extending portion of said pipe, said valve being adapted to be forced from its seat by unbalanced pressure in that portion of the pipe connecting with the tank, means for injecting air under pressure into the upstanding portion of said tank at a point intermediate the valve and the tank, adjustable means for positively locking said valve to its seat, resilient means tending to retain said valve seated when the positive locking means connection between the upper portion of said 7 tank and the system.

7. in fire-extinguishing apparatus, the combination with a normally closed distributing system, of a tank for a liquid fire-extinguishing medium, a pipe connecting the bottom of the tank with said system, a pipe connecting thev upper end of said tank with said system, a pair of valvesrespectively controlling said pipes, the valve controlling the first-named pipe being adapted for opening under unbalanced pressure in that portion of the pipe connecting with the tank, means for retaining the valve in said second pipe open when thevalve in the first-named pipe is closed, and'vice 'versa, a manually-operated valve for closing and openingv said second pipe,. .an alarm operatively connected with said second pipe and with the system and operative by a relative reduction 01' pressure in. the system as compared with the pressurein the tank, a port in the connection between said alarm and the system, and means for closing said pprt when the said manual valve is opened and for opening a said port when said manual valve is closed. 

